Declan Bogue tells Ronan Early about the debates and discussion behind this year’s awards.

This year had 11 first-time winners and eight counties represented in the final pick. Declan, a member of the selection committee, says this year’s deliberations were the longest in recent memory, and explains the thinking behind some of the close calls.

He also tells us about award ceremonies of the past and wonders if some of the best parts of the endeavour have been lost to progress, such as hundreds of free cigarettes and trips to far flung destinations.